Westward Expansion Glossary

acquisition: the act of gaining something, like landboundary: a line that separates somethingsurveryor: a person who examines land using linear and angular measurementsAmerican Dream: the dream of finding freedom and opportunity to become who you want to beagrarian: related or having to do with rural farming areas

Manifest Destiny : belief that it was America's right and duty to spread across the North American continentpopular sovereignty: the people's right to decide for themselves; the people have the powereconomic opportunity: a favorable or good chance/place to make money

Annexation: To incorporate (make a part of) an existing political unit such as a country, state, county, or city.cede/cession: to yeild or transfer to another by treaty, or to surrender by force hazards: sources of danger or obstaclesventure: an effort that involves risk or dangerhomestead: a plot of land where pioneers could build a home, farm, or ranchOregon Trail: overland route that stretched over 2,000 miles from Independence, Missouri to the Columbia River in OregonEmigrant: a person who leaves his or her native country or regionCholera: The number one killer of the actual Oregon Trail; caused by ingesting the bacteria spread through contaminated food or water.

Pioneer: a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, opening it for occupation and development by others. Mexicano: a pAdapt: to change in order to surivive in a new or different environment or situationIrrigation: a system for bringing water to farmland by artificial (not natural) meansFamine: extreme and general lack of food, as in a country or a large area. forty-niners: the people, mostly young men, who joined the rush for gold in California in 1849